Canada focused on mixed doubles wheelchair curling Paralympic berth
'It's been a bit of a learning curve,' says Paralympic champion Mark Ideson
Mark Ideson is no stranger to facing pressure on the curling ice.
He loves the bright lights and big stage, having competed in nine wheelchair curling world championships for Canada and has also represented the country at the last three Paralympic Games.
Ideson, from London, Ont., won Paralympic gold in 2014 before winning back-to-back bronze medals in four-person curling.
But he's about to enter an entirely new challenge – trying to qualify Canada alongside veteran curler Ina Forrest in the newly added discipline of mixed doubles wheelchair curling at the 2026 Paralympics.
"Ina and I are big game players. So we're excited to get there and get going. This is our 10th world championship together but obviously a new discipline. So it's been a bit of a learning curve," Ideson said.
"I'm a little bit of a risk taker on the ice. And she's conservative. So we balance each other out and we know each other really well and trust each other out there."
Ideson and Forrest have been staples on the four-person Canadian team for a decade – however, that team has already qualified for the Paralympics after strong showings at the last two world championships.
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4-person game
Countries qualify in the Paralympic wheelchair four-person game and mixed doubles by racking up enough combined points based on placement at the 2023, 2024 and 2025 world championships.
Canada is comfortably situated in four-person standings having made it to the championship games the last two world championships. Ten countries will compete in that event in Italy next year.
The four-person wheelchair world curling championships are currently underway in Stevenston, Scotland.
Ideson has been keeping a close eye on the competition -- they'll be competing at the same venue.
"It's been a bit of an emotional roller coaster because Ina and I typically play fours. And so that event is going on right now. Being at home watching that happening is actually more nerve wracking," Ideson said.
"The team is doing well and I'm nervous to get over there and play a new discipline, understanding what's at stake."
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Canada on qualifying bubble
Only eight countries will compete in the inaugural wheelchair mixed doubles tournament at the Paralympics and right now Canada is on the qualifying bubble, sitting in seventh place.
The duo of Collinda Joseph and Denis Thiessen secured 10 qualifying points for Canada at the 2023 world championships after losing to the U.S., in the semifinal. However, Canada did not record any points at last year's world championships.
That's only added to the drama of this year's event that gets underway next Monday and ends on March 16.
Ideson knows they'll need a strong finish to ensure Canada is part of the Paralympics in mixed doubles.
"I think we can be anywhere from fifth and better – would definitely guarantee the spot. Our goals are set a little higher. Our intentions are to make the playoffs, make the final and anything can happen in the final game," Ideson said.
"We just want to position ourselves the best we can to secure that Paralympic spot."
With exactly one year to go until the Games, the athletes are starting to feel the rush of the big show once again – something Ideson says never gets old.
"It does go by really quickly. And for me, I had my accident in 2007, so it's hard for me to believe that I'm a year out from hopefully my fourth Paralympics. I just can't believe how much time has gone by and how quickly it's gone by," Ideson said.
In 2007, the helicopter Ideson was piloting crashed in a field near Cambridge, Ont., leaving him resulting in a spinal cord injury and quadriplegia. Three years later, at the age of 33, he was introduced to wheelchair curling.
Ideson says he has immense pride in getting to represent the Maple Leaf.
"We're all very proud Canadians and we work super hard to do our best to represent Canada while we're home and when we're on the road internationally. Canada's such a great country to play for," he said.
"I picture myself all the time on the podium watching the flag raise and listening to our national anthem. I hope that at the upcoming Games we'll get the chance to do that again."
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